What blade size do I need for my SUP paddle?

Finding the proper blade size is vitally important when choosing your paddle configuration. Go too small and you will lack the speed and power you need; go too big and you will damage your shoulders. Find the right balance and you will feel balanced and able to paddle for long sessions with ease day after day. Use the table below to distinguish which size you need based on your weight.

Paddler Weight (lbs)	Racing (Hydro)	Recreational (Lava/Ohana)	Surfing - Bigger Boards (Surge)	Surfing - Smaller Boards (Surge)	Foiling (Surge)
99	XS	Small	XS	XS	XS
100	XS	Small	XS	XS	XS
101	XS	Small	XS	XS	XS
102	XS	Small	XS	XS	XS
103	XS	Small	XS	XS	XS
104	XS	Small	XS	XS	XS
105	XS	Small	XS (or S)	XS	XS (or S)
106	XS	Small	XS (or S)	XS	XS (or S)
107	XS	Small	XS (or S)	XS	XS (or S)
108	XS	Small	XS (or S)	XS	XS (or S)
109	XS	Small	XS (or S)	XS	XS (or S)
110	XS	Small	XS (or S)	XS (or S)	XS (or S)
111	XS	Small	XS (or S)	XS (or S)	XS (or S)
112	XS	Small	XS (or S)	XS (or S)	XS (or S)
113	XS	Small	XS (or S)	XS (or S)	XS (or S)
114	XS	Small	XS (or S)	XS (or S)	XS (or S)
115	XS	Small	Small (or XS)	XS (or S)	Small (or XS)
116	XS	Small	Small (or XS)	XS (or S)	Small (or XS)
117	XS	Small	Small (or XS)	XS (or S)	Small (or XS)
118	XS	Small	Small (or XS)	XS (or S)	Small (or XS)
119	XS	Small	Small (or XS)	XS (or S)	Small (or XS)
120	Small (or XS)	Small	Small (or XS)	XS (or S)	Small (or XS)
121	Small (or XS)	Small	Small (or XS)	Small (or XS)	Small (or XS)
122	Small (or XS)	Small	Small (or XS)	Small (or XS)	Small (or XS)
123	Small (or XS)	Small	Small (or XS)	Small (or XS)	Small (or XS)
124	Small (or XS)	Small	Small (or XS)	Small (or XS)	Small (or XS)
125	Small (or XS)	Small	Small	Small (or XS)	Small
126	Small (or XS)	Small	Small	Small (or XS)	Small
127	Small (or XS)	Small	Small	Small (or XS)	Small
128	Small (or XS)	Small	Small	Small (or XS)	Small
129	Small (or XS)	Small	Small	Small (or XS)	Small
130	Small (or XS)	Small	Small	Small	Small
131	Small (or XS)	Small (or M)	Small	Small	Small
132	Small (or XS)	Small (or M)	Small	Small	Small
133	Small	Small (or M)	Small	Small	Small
134	Small	Small (or M)	Small	Small	Small
135	Small	Small (or M)	Small	Small	Small
136	Small	Small (or M)	Small	Small	Small
137	Small	Small (or M)	Small	Small	Small
138	Small	Small (or M)	Small	Small	Small
139	Small	Small (or M)	Small	Small	Small
140	Small	Small (or M)	Small	Small	Small
141	Small	Small (or M)	Small	Small	Small
142	Small	Small (or M)	Small	Small	Small
143	Small	Small (or M)	Medium (or S)	Medium (or S)	Medium (or S)
144	Small	Medium (or Small)	Medium (or S)	Medium (or S)	Medium (or S)
145	Small	Medium (or Small)	Medium (or S)	Medium (or S)	Medium (or S)
146	Small	Medium (or Small)	Medium (or S)	Medium (or S)	Medium (or S)
147	Small	Medium (or Small)	Medium (or S)	Medium (or S)	Medium (or S)
148	Small	Medium (or Small)	Medium (or S)	Medium (or S)	Medium (or S)
149	Small	Medium (or Small)	Medium (or S)	Medium (or S)	Medium (or S)
150	Small	Medium (or Small)	Medium (or S)	Medium (or S)	Medium (or S)
151	Small	Medium (or Small)	Medium (or S)	Medium (or S)	Medium (or S)
152	Small	Medium (or Small)	Medium (or S)	Medium (or S)	Medium (or S)
153	Small	Medium (or Small)	Medium (or S)	Medium (or S)	Medium (or S)
154	Small (or M)	Medium (or Small)	Medium	Medium	Medium
155	Small (or M)	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
156	Medium (or S)	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
157	Medium (or S)	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
158	Medium (or S)	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
159	Medium (or S)	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
160	Medium (or S)	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
161	Medium (or S)	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
162	Medium (or S)	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
163	Medium (or S)	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
164	Medium (or S)	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
165	Medium (or S)	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
166	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
167	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
168	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
169	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
170	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
171	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
172	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
173	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
174	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
175	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
176	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)
177	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)
178	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)
179	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)
180	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)
181	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)
182	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)
183	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)
184	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)
185	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)
186	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)
187	Medium (or L)	Medium (or L)	Large (or M)	Large (or M)	Large (or M)
188	Large (or M)	Medium (or L)	Large (or M)	Large (or M)	Large (or M)
189	Large (or M)	Medium (or L)	Large (or M)	Large (or M)	Large (or M)
190	Large (or M)	Medium (or L)	Large (or M)	Large (or M)	Large (or M)
191	Large (or M)	Large	Large (or M)	Large (or M)	Large (or M)
192	Large (or M)	Large	Large (or M)	Large (or M)	Large (or M)
193	Large (or M)	Large	Large (or M)	Large (or M)	Large (or M)
194	Large (or M)	Large	Large (or M)	Large (or M)	Large (or M)
195	Large (or M)	Large	Large (or M)	Large (or M)	Large (or M)
196	Large (or M)	Large	Large (or M)	Large (or M)	Large (or M)
197	Large (or M)	Large	Large (or M)	Large (or M)	Large (or M)
198	Large (or M)	Large	Large (or M)	Large (or M)	Large (or M)
199	Large	Large	Large	Large	Large
200	Large	Large	Large	Large	Large
201	Large	Large	Large	Large	Large
202	Large	Large	Large	Large	Large
203	Large	Large	Large	Large	Large
204	Large	Large	Large	Large	Large
205	Large	Large	Large	Large	Large
206	Large	Large	Large	Large	Large
207	Large	Large	Large	Large	Large
208	Large	Large	Large	Large	Large
209	Large (or XL)	Large	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)
210	Large (or XL)	Large	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)
211	Large (or XL)	Large	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)
212	Large (or XL)	Large	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)
213	Large (or XL)	Large	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)
214	Large (or XL)	Large	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)
215	Large (or XL)	Large	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)
216	Large (or XL)	Large	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)
217	Large (or XL)	Large	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)
218	Large (or XL)	Large	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)
219	Large (or XL)	Large	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)
220	Large (or XL)	Large	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)	Large (or XL)
221	XL	Large	XL	XL	XL
222	XL	Large	XL	XL	XL
223	XL	Large	XL	XL	XL
224	XL	Large	XL	XL	XL
225	XL	Large	XL	XL	XL
226	XL	Large	XL	XL	XL
227	XL	Large	XL	XL	XL
228	XL	Large	XL	XL	XL
229	XL	Large	XL	XL	XL
230	XL	Large	XL	XL	XL
231	XL	Large	XL	XL	XL
232	XL	Large	XL	XL	XL
233	XL	Large	XL	XL	XL

Paddler weight

It stands to reason that heavier and taller paddlers are more capable of coping with bigger blades, while smaller paddlers will conversely need smaller blades. As shown in the table, there are a number of areas of crossover, some degree of personal preference and other factors discussed below that can help you decide between two options. Many experienced paddlers have multiple blade sizes in their quiver, which they use for various situations.

Board size & weight

The bigger and heavier your board, the larger the blade you will need to power it through the water. When paddling on a smaller SUP surfboard with too big a blade, you will notice that the board wants to pivot with every stroke. A smaller blade enables you to track better and paddle more efficiently.

Type of Racing & Paddling Distance

For shorter distances and sprint racing, athletes tend to use a bigger blade because fatigue is less of an issue and they want to gain the most power they can while maintaining a high cadence. Over longer distances, athletes generally use a smaller blade to conserve energy while focusing on maintaining an efficient stroke technique.

How do you know if your paddle blade if too big?

If you paddle blade is too big, you may notice some or all of these symptoms:

Sore shoulders
Back pain
Rapid fatigue
Difficulty maintaining a high cadence
Pain/soreness after paddling and/or next day
Hard to paddle in straight line

How do you know if your paddle blade if too small?

If you paddle blade is too small, you may notice some or all of these symptoms:

Decreased top-speed
Lack of acceleration
Heart rate too high
Lack of overall stroke power

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